Perspective

Business succession

April 22, 2025

Not every business has a future beyond its founder or is readily saleable. This can be because it is too closely linked to the owner's name or reputation and nobody else can credibly represent the business or because there are insufficient underlying assets or it is no longer viable and closure is a lower risk strategy than sale.

If your business is viable, is closely linked to your name and you have competent family members willing and able to continue your legacy you can migrate your goodwill to them over time and gain the acceptance of your customers.

If you are ‘giving’ your business to a family member instead of capitalising on a market sale, consider retaining a stake and a receding role and think about appropriate share owning structures and other perils like relationship property risks to the future of the business.

Aged care–beware!

Many of us will need to help relatives into aged care. It’s complicated. The quality of facilities, management and care is widely variable. At worst, the care isn’t care at all. There are some awful places out there with callous management and substandard buildings. Thankfully, some excellent facilities provide genuine care.

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What is due diligence and why is it so often superficial?

Due Diligence should not just be a box-ticking exercise, and can be an expensive waste of resources if not targeted and comprehensive

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Franchises: friend or foe?

Should your business be franchised, or should you buy a franchise? Most companies don't have enough distinctive value and features to be successfully franchised, and many are so unequal that they are oppressive and unfair to the franchisee.

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